This post is part of our Woman Evolve(d): How She Did It series
Each month we feature inspirational women who are undergoing career reinvention or have made it to the other side. Read about how they did it and take away usable tips from their career journeys! This month we’re featuring Ruchi Pinniger, founder and CEO of Watch her ProsperTM. Ruchi works with creatively-minded business owners who want to get on top of their finances and feel like they’re not alone in their business. She's even called a "financial therapist" by some of her clients due to the depth of the relationship she builds with them.
What is your personal mantra, mission or manifesto?
I am on a mission to help women business owners achieve total prosperity.
What inspired you to launch your current career/launch your business?
When I decided to jump off the corporate ladder, I wasn’t sure where I would land. I dove into the world of entrepreneurship and started meeting incredible, powerful women who were courageous enough to start a business, but didn’t know how to keep it running successfully day-to-day. In our deeper conversations, they’d tell me, “It’s hard. I’m lonely. I don’t have time to do it all myself. I don’t know how to manage the business. I love what I do but I don’t love the money stuff.”
When a good friend of mine started sharing her woes around her business, I offered to pitch in and help her. Within 3 months she went from struggling on her own, financially unsure and overwhelmed, to raising her rates, making and saving more, having a solid money mindset and knowing she had a partner to help make sound financial decisions. I knew I had found my true calling — getting to help amazing business owners who are great at what they do, but haven’t fully actualized their greatest vision.
What is unique about returning/pivoting in midlife? Challenges & opportunities?
In midlife, you have the perspective of looking back on the first half of your life and seeing what’s really important for you and what has been missing. Twenty years ago, I never could have even dreamed up the life and business I have now. At this time, I have more courage, more confidence, and I’m wise enough to know that I don’t have to be great at everything. In fact, I’m more connected to myself and the world, and know what I’m great at and what I’m not great at (which are the things I hire people to do).
What’s one intention you have for your work in 2020?
My intention for 2020 is to continue to elevate my brand so I can reach and serve more people. I’ve really landed, this is my life work, getting behind women to create prosperity inside and outside, will have a ripple effect for their families, their communities, their industries.
What are you most passionate about right now?
I’ve just finished rebranding my company to Watch Her Prosper, so that is really exciting. The reason I rebranded is so that the business name reflects my commitment to women business owners creating prosperity on all levels - so that the passion and purpose they carry on the inside matches their bank account on the outside.
Did you know that the majority of women would prefer to talk about their own death than about money? I want women to have a healthy relationship with money so they can be the powerful leaders they are meant to be and can have a remarkable economic impact on the world.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Well, since we’re in the midst of a pandemic, I’m not quite sure what’s typical anymore. Regardless of pandemic or not, my day starts out with my family, pre-pandemic a more rushed breakfast, but post-pandemic we all get to sit down and eat together because we don’t have to commute.
Almost every day, I spend some time with my staff on training and development AND with my clients getting into the nitty gritty of their numbers and getting into powerful mentorship conversations to help their businesses move forward. Lately, I’ve had many opportunities to provide extra support for my clients, colleagues, and other business owners through the recent financial challenges.
A couple of nights a week, I dedicate to networking, board meetings for my charity, and friends.
Otherwise, evenings are family time. I’ve been cooking a lot more than normal recently (luckily my husband is a fabulous cook and my son is now getting more into cooking). After dinner, we do some homework checks, and then spend time playing games or catching up on our favorite shows and movies. Each night ends with me reading and cuddling with my son, followed by a little bit of alone time for myself.
What’s the one thing that has advanced your career in the last year?
Surprisingly, managing my clients and other business owners through the unforeseen financial challenges that this current pandemic has created has shown me the depth of my abilities to be able to lead people through what, in many cases, has been the most difficult time in their businesses.
Several of my clients went from having some of their best financial years to having no income at all, and I was called upon immediately and unexpectedly to fill multiple needs for each person that went beyond the typical emotional and financial support I provide.
Who’s your “tribe” when it comes to professional inspiration or support?
I’m most inspired by my clients and how they continuously overcome adversity and show their resilience, especially in a time like this, to never give up and never release their dreams under even the most difficult circumstances.
I also have this amazing network of women business owners, colleagues and friends that I connect with on a regular basis. We continually support, lift, and refer each other.
Favorite book, app or podcast?
I have this habit of starting a book, putting it down to start another, and then going back to it. Am I the only one who does this?! Honestly, I have piles of books in my office that are on my “to read” list. I love the book “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek – it’s all about how leaders inspire people to take action…lots of food for thought…and actually, his TED Talk based on the book is one of my absolute favorites.
Another book that a client recently told me about is called “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown – for those of us who are constantly on a quest for balance in our lives.
You’re granted an extra hour in the day, how do you spend it?
Spend more time with my family, either playing a game or baking in the kitchen with my son. We are all big foodies and love to cook together and share recipe ideas.
The advice I wish I had given to my 20 year old self is…
It’s OK not to have all the answers right now, it will all come in time. Life is a journey, enjoy the ride.
The advice that I want to give to my 75 year old self is...
You’ve had a great run, you’ve helped thousands of women and future generations live prosperous and powerful lives…now sit back, relax, enjoy your grandkids, and continue traveling the world with your husband.
Your theme song that played every time you walked in a room would be?
Never Enough (by Loren Allred) from The Greatest Showman soundtrack
Best career advice for other women?
Be open to what the universe brings, listen for the messages you hear, don’t ignore your intuition, get the support you need from others around you, and don’t be afraid to ask (or pay for) the help that you need…it will be priceless in the end.
When did you feel you got “you” back?
After taking a big risk in my corporate life, I had a terrible experience (because I didn’t listen to my intuition) and I lost my confidence and sense of self. By the time I started my business and took on my first few clients, I felt like I had found my new, even better self and had finally found my life’s purpose after many years of searching.
What’s up next?
Since I take on only a limited number of private clients each year, I am working on some new ways to serve and reach more women plus I am focused on getting out there more with my speaking and interviewing with the media. All exciting things for the future and I absolutely can’t wait to continue this beautiful, fulfilling journey that I am on.